Tool bar control for agricultural implement

Abstract

A tool bar control mechanism for an agricultural implement or the like having a frame, a pair of generally transverse tool bars mounted on the frame for rotation about their longitudinal axes and carrying ground working tools such as spring teeth for movement therewith, and transport wheels mounted on the frame and movable between lowered transport positions wherein the frame and ground working tools are raised for transport and raised positions wherein the frame and tools are lowered for ground working operation, the tool bar control mechanism including linkage means operatively interconnecting the transport wheels with the tool bars so as to effect predetermined rotation of the tool bars and ground working tools in response to movement of the transport wheels between their lowered and raised positions and positively maintain the tools in set position during ground working operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An agricultural implement comprising, in combination, a frame,   at least two tool bars supported by said frame for rotation about their longitudinal axes and each carrying at least one ground working tool thereon for movement therewith,   wheel means mounted on said frame and movable between a lowered transport position wherein said frame and ground working tools are raised for transport and a raised position wherein said frame and ground working tools are lowered for ground working operation,   operator means operatively associated with said wheel means and adapted to move said wheel means between its said lowered and raised positions,   and a control mechanism operatively associated with said wheel means and said tool bars so as to effect predetermined rotation of said tool bars when said wheel means is moved between its said lowered and raised positions, said control mechanism including first linkage means interconnecting one of said tool bars to said wheel means so that movement of said wheel means from its said lowered to its said raised positions effects rotation of said one of said tool bars in a predetermined direction,   second linkage means intereconnecting the other of said tool bars to said wheel means so that movement of said wheel means from its said lowered to its said raised positions is inoperative to effect rotation of said other of said tool bars through said second linkage means, while movement of said wheel means from its said raised to its said lowered positions is operative to effect rotation of said other of said tool bars through said second linkage means in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction,   and third linkage means directly interconnecting said tool bars so that rotation of either of said tool bars effects a corresponding rotation of the other of said tool bars,   wherein said first linkage means includes a connector plate mounted on said one of said tool bars for movement therewith, and a pair of actuator links pivotally connected to said connector plate and interconnecting said connector plate to said wheel means, and,   wherein each of said actuator links has lost motion connection with said connector plate, one of said actuator links being adapted to effect rotation of said connector plate and said one of said tool bars in said predetermined rotational direction in response to movement of said wheel means from its said lowered to its said raised positions, and the other of said actuator links being adapted to limit the extent of said rotation of said one of said tool bars in said predetermined rotational direction.   
     
     
       2. An agricultural implement as defined in claim 1 including a rockshaft supported by said frame for rotation about its longitudinal axis, said wheel means including at least one pair of transversely spaced transport wheels supported on said rockshaft, said operator means being operatively associated with said rockshaft and operable to effect rotation thereof so as to move said transport wheels between said lowered transport position and said raised position, said actuator links being pivotally connected to said rockshaft so as to undergo longitudinal movement in response to rotation of said rockshaft. 
     
     
       3. An agricultural implement as defined in claim 1 wherein said second linkage means includes a control link defining a lost motion connection between said transport wheel means and said other of said tool bars. 
     
     
       4. An agricultural implement as defined in claim 1 wherein said connector plate includes means enabling variable adjustment of the connection of said actuator links to said connector plate so as to facilitate adjustment of the extent of rotation of said tool bars in said predetermined direction upon movement of said wheel means from its said lowered to its said raised positions. 
     
     
       5. An agricultural implement as defined in claim 4 wherein said lost motion connections of said actuator links to said connector plate are defined by a common connecting pin releasably cooperative with said connector plate and said actuator links, said second linkage means being cooperative with said other of said tool bars and said third linkage means so that said connecting pin may be freely removed from said connector plate when said wheel means is in its said lowered position thereby facilitating selective adjustment of said connector plate relative to said actuator links. 
     
     
       6. An agricultural implement as defined in claim 4 wherein said actuator links include a first actuator link interconnecting said wheel means to said connector plate so as to be placed in axial tension and effect said rotation of said one of said tool bars when said wheel means is moved from its said lowered so its said raised positions, and a second actuator link interconnecting said wheel means to said connector plate so as to limit the extent of said rotation as said wheel means reached its said raised position. 
     
     
       7. An agricultural implement comprising, in combination, frame means adapted to be attached to a draft vehicle, a rockshaft mounted on said frame means in transverse relation thereto for rotation about its longitudinal axis, wheel means mounted on said rockshaft for movement therewith, actuator means operatively associated with said rockshaft and operative to effect movement of said wheel means between a lowered transport position wherein said frame means is in a raised position relative to ground and a second position wherein said frame means is in a lowered position relative to ground, at least two tool bars mounted on said frame means in transverse relation thereto for rotation about their longitudinal axes, each of said tool bars supporting at least one ground working tool thereon for movement therewith, first linkage means operatively associated with one of said tool bars and said rockshaft and operative to effect predetermined rotation of said one of said tool bars when said wheel means is moved from its said lowered to it said raised positions, second linkage means operatively associated with the other of said tool bars and said rockshaft and being inoperative to rotate said other of said tool bars when said wheel means is moved from its lowered to its raised positions but being operative to rotate said other of said tool bars in a direction opposite to said predetermined rotation when said wheel means is moved from its raised to its lowered position, and third linkage means directly interconnectng said tool bars so that rotation of both of said tool bars is effected in response to rotation of either of said tool bars by said first or second linkage means in response to movement of said wheel means, wherein said first linkage means includes a pair of actuator links, and a connector plate mounted on said one of said tool bars in normal relation thereto, said actuator links each being pivotally connected to said rockshaft and having lost motion connection with said connector plate in a manner so that movement of said wheel means from its said lowered to its said raised positions places one of said actuator links in tension and effects said predetermined rotation of said one of said tool bars, the other of said actuator links being operative to limit the extent of said predetermined rotation of said one of said tool bars when said wheel means is moved to its said raised position. 
     
     
       8. An agricultural implement as defined in claim 7 wherein said connector plate includes means enabling variable adjustment thereof relative to said actuator links so as to vary the extent of said predetermined rotation of said tool bars. 
     
     
       9. An agricultural implement as defined in claim 8 wherein said second linkage means comprises a control link pivotally connected to said rockshaft and having lost motion connection with said other of said tools bars so as to effect positive rotation of said other of said tool bars in a direction opposite to said predetermined rotational direction when said wheel means is moved from its said raised to its said lowered positions, said control link being adapted to maintain said tool bars in predetermined positions when said wheel means is in its said lowered position. 
     
     
       10. An agricultural implement as defined in claim 9 wherein said means enabling variable adjustment of said connector plate relative to said actuator links comprises a plurality of spaced openings in said connector plate and a connecting pin releasably insertable in said openings, said control link being operative to maintain said connecting pin in a loose condition relative to said connector plate and said actuator links when said wheel means is in its said lowered position so as to facilitate ready adjustment of said connector pin between different ones of said openings.